Phillip Cocu was appointed as Derby County’s new manager earlier this month to much excitement amongst supporters.
The 48-year-old penned a four-year deal to become the Rams’ first overseas boss.
Cocu’s long and distinguished playing career saw him achieve 800 club appearances and four league titles, including La Liga during his time with Barcelona, establishing himself as a world class player and a great leader both on and off the pitch. His career also included spells with AZ Alkmaar, Vitesse Arnhem and his hometown club PSV Eindhoven on two occasions, in addition to Al Jazira in the UAE.
After his hugely impressive playing career, which included representing Holland on more than 100 occasions, Cocu chose to start his career as a coach. He guided PSV Eindhoven to three Dutch league titles during five full seasons in charge between 2013 and 2018.
During his time at PSV, Cocu’s team delivered exciting and highly successful football, whilst also demonstrating a strong ability to develop players; experience and qualities which made him an excellent choice to be the Rams’ new manager.
To find out a little bit more about the Derby boss and get the inside track on his managerial career to date, dcfc.co.uk spoke to Football-Oranje’s Michael Statham (@EredivisieMike).
Q: What is your reaction to Phillip Cocu being appointed as Derby County’s manager?
A: I am pleased to see Phillip Cocu challenging himself in England. It is a natural next step after a shorter than expected spell in Turkey. It is also exciting to see such a successful Dutch manager stepping into the English Championship.
Q: How big a coup is it for Derby County to attract a manager of Phillip Cocu’s standing?
A: I think Derby County have brought in someone who could be very special. He won three Dutch Eredivisie titles in five years with PSV between 2013 and 2018 and reached the Champions League Quarter Finals in 2015/16. Previous to club management, Cocu worked extensively with the Dutch national team.
Q: What type of manager are Derby County getting?
A: Cocu is a man who is confident in his abilities. He likes a possession-based game, like most Dutch managers, but Cocu loves his teams to attack. As a player, Cocu was managed by the likes of Louis van Gaal, Dick Advocaat and Ronald Koeman. After retirement, Cocu worked with the Dutch national team, assisting Bert van Marwijk during the Netherlands’ run to the 2010 World Cup Final. Cocu is a calm character who will no doubt work tirelessly to get the best out of his current squad.
q: How highly regarded is Phillip Cocu in Holland for the work he oversaw at PSV?
A: Cocu was really highly regarded in the Netherlands before he left PSV for Turkey last summer. It was more difficult for Cocu in his final season in Eindhoven; however, winning the Eredivisie three years out of five is a fantastic achievement, whilst also creating a team that could be so competitive in the Champions League.
Q: What style of football does Phillip Cocu play?
A: During his time in the Netherlands, PSV were either the league’s top goalscorers or a very close second – showing Cocu’s emphasis on direct and attacking football. Not only that, but Cocu was able to set his teams up more pragmatically for European matches, with good success too, with a team he built up over several years.
Q: What qualities do you think Phillip Cocu has shown in his managerial career so far?
A: Cocu has shown that he can build a team that has a stamina of winning many games in succession. He likes to keep a consistent team selection and give youth a chance at the start of a new campaign. He can adapt his squad of players depending on the opponent’s strengths. Cocu has also successfully brought high-profile players to his clubs in the past, such as Andrés Guardado and Héctor Horeno when at PSV.
Q: Is it fair to say that Phillip Cocu has a track record of developing exciting talent?
A: It is! Cocu took youngsters from PSV’s youth academy and other young talents from foreign clubs and developed them into expensive transfers that yielded big money for PSV – as is natural for Dutch clubs. Memphis Depay, Georginio Wijnaldum and Jetro Willems are only three examples of Dutch players who moved on to bigger leagues following development under Cocu. He is certainly willing to give youth a chance.
Q: What type of individual is Phillip Cocu and do you expect a strong relationship with fans?
A: Cocu’s holds a relaxed demeanour but he demands a lot from his players. Cocu was not known for any particular relationship with PSV fans but his ambitious message to Derby fans upon signing a deal suggests he wishes to remain with Derby for a while.
Q: How confident are you that Phillip Cocu can be a success at Derby County?
A: I am confident that, given time, Cocu will be a great success with Derby. He will wish to build a winning machine that plays attacking and direct football, which may take a year or two to create under the many pressures of the Championship. Cocu has researched the Championship and seems devoted to his new challenge.
Q: What about his coaching staff - Chris van der Weerden and Twan Scheepers - what can you tell us about them?
A: Van der Weerden and Scheepers are two coaches that Cocu trusts and knows well. He played with van der Weerden at Vitesse and PSV before coaching together in PSV’s youth ranks and most recently during Cocu’s short stint at Fenerbache. Scheepers worked for a decade with PSV, coaching PSV’s first team and youth teams. They will be on exactly the same page as Cocu from day one and will want to recreate the past success they tasted in the Netherlands.
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